Dependencies

Dependencies play an integral role within DITA collections. They define linking relationships between DITA maps, DITA topics, and other non-DITA content. The linking relationships between assets depend on one another to function in the DITA collection. If a single reference becomes unavailable, the DITA collection's entire dependency structure breaks.

DITA Dependencies include all linking relationships within the collection, no matter if references use direct or indirect (e.g., keys and conrefs) addressing. Link types include cross references, navigation, etc.

The DITA Properties feature provides two tabs where users can review dependencies associated with individual DITA assets and non-DITA assets.

Available dependency details include:

• The name and ID of the asset that the dependency references.

• A list of all dependencies that directly and indirectly apply to the currently selected asset item.

• The hierarchical dependency route path that associates with the dependency entry.

  In other words, the linking relationship chain structure that connects the dependency to the currently selected asset item.

• The DITA element type that contains the dependency reference.

• The validation status of the dependency.

  The CMS indicates which dependencies successfully validate and which dependencies contain errors. If errors apply, users can review the error details.

Depends On

The Depends On tab provides details about DITA and non-DITA asset items that the currently selected DITA asset references.

For example, let's say the currently selected DITA asset contains a cross reference to another DITA topic and a reference to an image asset. Both dependency links display within the Depends On tab list entries.

See DITA "Depends On" Properties for details to use this tab.

Used By

The Used By tab provides details about DITA asset items that reference the currently selected DITA asset.

For example, let's say a DITA topic references the currently select image asset. The topic that references the image displays as a usage reference dependency within the Used By tab list entries.

See DITA "Used By" Properties for details to use this tab.

Map Details

The Map Details tab provides tools to manage DITA maps. This tab only displays for DITA map items. Features include:

• View DITA map structure, including links to all referenced topics and other DITA resources.

• Check out and check in DITA map and all its dependencies.

• Determine the mark-for-publish status of any DITA map and which publishing target(s) it has been assigned to, and apply or clear the mark-for-publish status of any DITA map.

• Publish the DITA map.

• Download the DITA map and all its dependencies.

• Assign metadata to each DITA map.

In addition to DITA Properties, the Map Details interface is provided in Administration > DITA > DITA Map Manager. See Map Details in DITA Properties for details about this interface.

Alias Management

The aliases feature helps organizations model complex format integrations in the Site Tree prior to publishing the collection. For example, your organization may need DITA content to display on your website alongside page (HTML) content or integrated within page content. The DITA aliases feature helps your team envision the overall organization of your output for "mixed-format" integration scenarios.

In addition to DITA Properties, the Map Details interface is provided in Administration > DITA > DITA Map Manager. See DITA Aliases for details about this interface.

Output Management

The Output Management tab provides default settings for DITA map publishing.

These settings serve as fallback options to prevent unintentional DITA-OT publishes on DITA assets. For example, if users execute site-wide publishes without these fallback options in place, the publishing pipeline can publish all DITA assets via the DITA-OT. This may lead to an inordinate amount of DITA asset publishes, which can be taxing on the CMS.

By configuring output management settings, users can preselect the output formats and DITAVALs the DITA-OT will use on individual DITA maps when site-wide publishes execute. The next side-wide publish will apply the output management settings defined within this tab to the applicable DITA collection.

Also, keep in mind that, when users execute single publishes, this will modify the output management settings for the DITA map. For example, let's say users execute a full publish and choose the HTML5 output format in the DITA publishing dialog that displays. When users later access the Output Management tab settings, the HTML5 output format option displays as selected.

See DITA Output Management Properties for details to use this tab.